Fall Harvest Butternut Squash Chicken Salad

I’m really into the concept of food freedom and eating what I’m craving. I haven’t always been this way, though. There was definitely a time in my life (back in high school) when I thought a salad was the only thing I should order at a restaurant.

It’s been a process over the years of figuring out how to fuel my body in a way that makes me feel good and also honoring cravings when they hit. Now that I don’t restrict what I eat, I generally feel the freedom to eat what I’m craving, eat when I’m hungry, and stop when I’m full.

Like earlier this week- it was my 22nd birthday (woohoo!) and I met my mom at the Cheesecake Factory that’s halfway between campus and my parent’s house to have lunch together. I got the dinner-sized portion of the four-cheese pasta for lunch, ate till I was full, and then boxed up the other half or so to take home. It definitely wasn’t the lowest calorie item on the menu, but it was awesome and I loved every bite. I do often crave salads and smoothies, but other times, all I want is a big bowl of cheesy pasta, you know? So, I order salads when I go out to eat sometimes, if that’s what I’m feeling and the restaurant has awesome loaded salads, but I also know it’s easy to make really good salads at home. Like this harvest butternut squash chicken salad right here. It was an awesome restaurant salad that I ordered once on a salad-craving day and then re-created at home to enjoy again AND share with you! The star of the salad is the sweet, almost caramelized roasted butternut squash.There’s a restaurant in Raleigh that’s become one of my favorite spots to go for special occasions with my family when we’re all in town since 1) it’s delicious and 2) it has something that fits everyone’s dietary needs.

I’ve ordered quite a few different things there now, from the quinoa stuffed eggplant to the Mediterranean pasta to this amazing fall harvest salad. The salad has candied nuts, sweet roasted butternut squash cubes, and feta cheese. It’d be a great appetizer on its own, but I especially loved adding grilled chicken to make it a meal. I used a spicy cajun seasoning for the chicken to contrast the sweetness of the squash and the dressing

Wash and dry chicken breasts. Pound to an even 1/4 inch thickness, and then place in a medium bowl and top with olive oil, lemon juice, and cajun seasoning. Cover the bowl with a lid, place in refrigerator, and marinate for 3-4 hours.

While chicken is marinating, peel and chop butternut squash. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle with a tablespoon of cooking oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes until soft and beginning to caramelize.

While squash is roasting, wash and dry lettuce or spinach. Mix salad dressing ingredients in a jar or shaker container. Cook chicken in skillet in a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-low heat, for 3-4 minutes each side.

Place salad or lettuce in bowls, and then top with roasted squash cubes, nuts, cheese, and sliced chicken breasts. Serve immediately.

Comments

It makes my heart sooo full and happy to see that you have come such a long way in feeding your body exactly what it needs and what it’s craving. <3 I love to hear about people's journeys to food freedom, and I love that our bodies just balance out (God is such an AWESOME Creator; He deserves all the glory!), and sometimes we need a big bowl of cheesy pasta or a big fall themed salad like this one.Emily recently posted…Comment on Why Recovery Is So Much More Than Me (WIAW) by Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar

As much as I love butternut squash [which is a lot] I can’t believe that I have yet to put it in a salad! Going to have to give this one a try for sure! And that dressing – so simple yet sounds so delicious.Kat recently posted…Banana Blondies with Caramel Frosting [GF / Vegan]

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Welcome!

Hi there, I’m Liv! I started blogging during my first year of college at UNC-Chapel Hill to share recipes easy enough for a dorm kitchen. Thankfully, I’m no longer cooking in a dorm, but my goal is still to share simple, delicious recipes that don’t take too much of your time. Most often, you can find me running, eating ice cream, and making a mess in my kitchen. Read more…